Armenia expects wider recognition of 'genocide'

Monday, June 27, 2016 - 01:09

The Armenian president says he expects more countries to recognize the 1915 massacre of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire a century ago as a ''genocide'' after high profile remarks made in the global community. Nathan Frandino reports.

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Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan says Pope Francis and the German lower house are giving momentum to his country's fight to have the 1915 massacre of Armenians by Turkey recognized internationally as a genocide.
(SOUNDBITE) (Armenian) ARMENIAN PRESIDENT, SERZH SARKSYAN, SAYING (ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL TRANSLATION):
"Both, the principal position of the Pope and views, expressed by the Bundestag, will pave the way for new recognitions by other nations."
His comments come after a visit by the Pontiff, who used the word genocide in a speech on Friday. Turkey has previously rejected the label.
Ankara accepts that many Christian Armenians were killed at the time, but denies that up to 1.5 million died.
But the German lower house adopted a resolution this month to declare the killings a genocide, earning praise from Sarksyan.
(SOUNDBITE) (Armenian) ARMENIAN PRESIDENT, SERZH SARKSYAN, SAYING (ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL TRANSLATION):
"This (decision) will probably serve as a good example for other nations to follow and to learn from it."
Turkey has yet to respond.

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